Letter: Trump’s attacks on Islam

On Dec. 20, Donald Trump said “ISIS and other Islamist terrorists continually slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship as part of their global jihad.”

Mr. Trump had added, “These terrorists and their regional and worldwide networks must be eradicated from the face of the earth, a mission we will carry out with all freedom-loving partners."

While few will dispute Mr. Trump's goal of eradicating ISIS, fewer will agree with him that by alienating the overwhelming majority of peace-loving Muslims world-wide, he will be able to accomplish his objective. By ignoring the fact that the vast majority of the victims of the ISIS cult have been Muslims themselves, his incendiary comments create a disingenuous confrontation between Islam and Christianity, and serve only as a recruitment tool for violent extremists abroad, and potential home-grown terrorism. While Muslims have always condemned terror as antithetical to Islamic beliefs, we find our categorization as a part of the problem rather than the solution offensive. Mr. Trump's blatant anti-Islamic fear and hate-mongering, especially after his pledge to serve all Americans, is repugnant and reprehensible.

In view of Mr. Trump's selective amnesia for controversial if not inflammatory remarks, and his proposal to establish a Muslim Registry, it is important to present his original statement so that he is not given a free pass every time for continuing this irresponsible tactic of bait and switch.